I don't know about that, I try to steer clear of common pawn shop brands. Which is the only place I have seen AP around here, I don't know anything about them other than that. There again, as stated, I am only referring to PB equipment bought 5 yrs ago...and as far as I can tell, the only thing that has changed on the XL series is the dust cap design.
How long have you been installing PB? Was your problem with a certain line of PB equipment?..a specific amp?..sub? To say that every PB setup you installed blew makes me question the installer, not the equipment...and I am not being sarcastic, or flaming you...just objectively speaking.